Standing Back Control Top represents a dominant offensive position in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu where you have achieved back exposure on your opponent while both practitioners remain on their feet. This position is characterized by your chest connected to your opponent’s back, establishing harness or seat belt control with your arms, and often employing hooks or body positioning to compromise their base. The standing variant offers unique offensive opportunities that blend wrestling-style control with traditional BJJ submission threats, creating a dynamic position that requires both technical precision and strategic decision-making.
From a strategic perspective, Standing Back Control Top presents you with multiple offensive pathways. You can pursue immediate standing submissions, particularly the rear naked choke and its variations, or you can use the position to take your opponent down forcefully, transitioning to more stable grounded back control where you can consolidate your advantage. The position also offers psychological pressure, as opponents often panic when they lose facing position while standing, creating opportunities for mistakes you can capitalize on. However, the standing nature of the position means you must constantly manage your own balance and weight distribution while maintaining control.
Success from Standing Back Control Top requires understanding several key mechanical principles. First, establishing and maintaining the harness or seat belt grip is paramount - without secure upper body control, the position collapses rapidly. Second, you must decide when to pursue submissions versus when to take the opponent down, a decision based on their defensive reactions, your skill level, and the match context. Third, you need to manage hooks and body positioning to prevent your opponent from turning into you or establishing defensive frames. Advanced practitioners excel at using this position dynamically, flowing between submission attempts, takedowns, and transitions to other dominant positions based on opponent reactions, while beginners often struggle with the instability and allow opponents to escape through hesitation or poor grip management.
Position Definition
- Your chest must maintain connection to opponent’s back with direct torso-to-torso contact, creating the fundamental back exposure that defines this position and enables your control and submission attacks
- You have established harness or seat belt control with your arms (one arm over opponent’s shoulder, one under their armpit in classic configuration) or alternative gripping system that prevents opponent rotation
- Both practitioners are in standing position with feet on the ground, requiring you to manage your own balance while controlling opponent and preventing their escape attempts through base breaking
- Opponent’s back is exposed to you with their spine facing your chest, limiting their ability to face you or create defensive frames, giving you submission access to their neck
- You maintain some form of lower body positioning - hooks inside opponent’s thighs, body triangle, or strategic weight distribution - to compromise their base and prevent easy escape
Prerequisites
- You successfully achieved back control during scramble, takedown attempt, or transition from standing clinch position
- You established back exposure with opponent’s spine facing your chest while both standing
- You secured at least partial harness or upper body control to prevent opponent from immediately turning to face you
- Both practitioners remain on feet or you are in process of taking opponent down while maintaining back control
Key Offensive Principles
- Establish and maintain harness control immediately - without secure upper body grips, the position is lost quickly in standing scenario
- Make strategic decision between pursuing standing submissions versus taking opponent down - based on their defensive reactions and your control security
- Use hooks and body positioning to compromise opponent’s base - make them unstable while maintaining your own balance and control
- Attack the neck with choking sequences while maintaining body control - coordinate upper and lower body to prevent escape during submission attempts
- Exploit opponent’s panic and defensive mistakes - standing back exposure creates psychological pressure you can capitalize on
- Stay heavy on opponent’s back with chest pressure while managing your own balance - create the feeling of inevitable control
- Be prepared to flow between submissions, takedowns, and position transitions - dynamic adaptability is key to maintaining offensive pressure from this inherently unstable position
Available Attacks
Rear Naked Choke → Won by Submission
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 35%
- Intermediate: 50%
- Advanced: 65%
Takedown to Grounded Back Control → Back Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 45%
- Intermediate: 60%
- Advanced: 75%
Bow and Arrow Choke → Won by Submission
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 25%
- Intermediate: 40%
- Advanced: 55%
Body Triangle Lock → Body Triangle
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 30%
- Intermediate: 45%
- Advanced: 60%
Armbar from Back Transition → Armbar Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 20%
- Intermediate: 35%
- Advanced: 50%
Mat Return to Back Mount → Mount
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 35%
- Intermediate: 50%
- Advanced: 65%
Crucifix Transition → Crucifix
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 15%
- Intermediate: 30%
- Advanced: 45%
Truck Position Entry → Truck
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 20%
- Intermediate: 35%
- Advanced: 50%
Decision Making from This Position
If opponent’s posture is broken forward and neck is exposed:
- Execute Rear Naked Choke attack → Won by Submission (Probability: 55%)
- Execute Maintain control and break down to ground → Back Control (Probability: 60%)
If opponent maintains strong upright posture and wide base:
- Execute Take opponent down to grounded back control → Back Control (Probability: 65%)
- Execute Establish body triangle to compromise base → Body Triangle (Probability: 50%)
- Execute Use hooks to break their base then attack → Standing Back Control (Probability: 55%)
If opponent is fighting your harness grip aggressively:
- Execute Transition to crucifix capturing arm → Crucifix (Probability: 40%)
- Execute Immediately take down before losing control → Back Control (Probability: 60%)
If opponent attempts to turn into you:
- Execute Follow the turn to front headlock → Front Headlock (Probability: 50%)
- Execute Force them down to side control → Side Control (Probability: 45%)
- Execute Maintain back and reset control → Standing Back Control (Probability: 40%)
If opponent drops to their knees defensively:
- Execute Follow to grounded back control → Back Control (Probability: 70%)
- Execute Transition to truck position → Truck (Probability: 45%)
- Execute Attack choke during transition → Won by Submission (Probability: 50%)
Optimal Submission Paths
Direct rear naked choke path
Standing Back Control Top → Harness Control → Rear Naked Choke Setup → Won by Submission
Grounded back control path
Standing Back Control Top → Takedown with Control → Back Control → Seat Belt Control Back → Rear Naked Choke → Won by Submission
Body triangle to submission path
Standing Back Control Top → Body Triangle Lock → Back Control → Rear Naked Choke → Won by Submission
Crucifix transition path
Standing Back Control Top → Grip Fight Counter → Crucifix → Choke from Crucifix → Won by Submission
Mounted back control path
Standing Back Control Top → Mat Return → Mount → High Mount → Armbar from Mount → Won by Submission
Success Rates and Statistics
| Skill Level | Retention Rate | Advancement Probability | Submission Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 45% | 55% | 35% |
| Intermediate | 60% | 70% | 50% |
| Advanced | 75% | 85% | 65% |
Average Time in Position: 20-45 seconds (typically transitions to ground or submission quickly)